Friday, 20 April 2012

Hope in the Salish Sea

Whales fill us with hope. If something so
big can flourish here, maybe in time the smaller and less obvious parts of the
puzzle can too.

-Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun

This quote is taken from a recent article in
the Vancouver Sun. The article focuses on the surprising resurgence of marine
mammals in the Salish Sea.

The Salish Sea is a 7,000 square kilometer body of water that
includes the Juan de Fuca Strait, the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound. Within
this territory is a complicated ecosystem that has seen a considerable amount
of damage since the arrival of European settlers. Overfishing, commercial
whaling, pollution, habitat destruction and climate change have all affected
the region.

Concern for the marine mammals in this area began nearly 50 years
ago when scientists started tracking and recording the dramatic dips in
population. When the alarms sounded, measures were set in place to increase the
numbers by limiting and in some cases banning commercial hunts.

Management of fish stocks, in regards to whale population, became
important. Habitats were protected and pulp and paper mills that bordered
endangered marine habitats were shutdown.

Marine life became a major concern for not only the scientists
working on the West Coast, but also the residents living here.

And now for the good news.

Since the 1960s, the population of harbour seals, which once
numbered as low as 15,000, is now over 100,00. The number of humpback whale
sightings is up. The stellar sea lion population is thriving. And while the
number of resident killer whales is down to 88 in the Salish Sea, the number of
transient killer whales passing through our waters is up dramatically.

An increase in large mammal numbers means the smaller marine
animals, further down the food chain, are increasing as well.

There are still 113 species of marine organisms that are threatened
in the Salish Sea, but the increase in the larger mammals gives us hope.

Interesting Fact: It takes 660 chinook a day to feed the resident killer whales in the Salish Sea.